Spark-gap apparatus



L. O. PARKER" SPARK GAP APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13.1918.

I Patented Sept.

INVENTOR Les/1e 0; P127601 ATTORNEY Y WM B y l .v' l 29% l la ITNESSES:V

I I I I Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESLIE O. PARKER, 01 SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGI-IOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SPARK-GAP APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern .1 r

Be it known that I,LESLIE O. PARKER, a cltizen of the United States, anda resident of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented tus andparticularly to that class ofapparatus which employs two relatively movable electrodes, one of whichis stationary and the other of which is a rotatable toothed disk theteeth of the latter moving past the tip of the stationary electrode tomake and break a circuit across a gap therebetween.

In order that the make and break shall occur at the peak of the voltagewave, it is necessary that the electrodes shall be relatively adjustableto permit them to be correctlypositioned withrelation to each other.This adjustment isusually effected by moving the normally stationaryelectrode circumferentially of the'rotatable electrode.

The object of my invention is to provide a spark-gap structure in whichthe normally stationary electrode shall be supported by, and insulatedfrom, the end bracket of an alternator in a simple and inexpensive man-0 ner, and so arranged that it is readily adjustable on its support andaccessible for inspectionand repairs; e a

The above and other objects and the novel features of my invention willbe apparent n from the following description, taken in connection withthe drawingin which Fig ure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of ahigh-frequency wireless generator equipped with a spark-gapstructureembodying my 4g invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail viewsof parts of the generator and the mounting for the stationary electrode.

Referring to the drawing, the spark-gap apparatus'is shown mounted. on ahigh-frequency generatori for wireless telegraphy but it will, ofcourse, be understood that such apparatus may be mounted on some othersupport and independently of the generator. Thegenerator shown comprisesa' mainframe 10 and end brackets 11 and 12 provided with suitablebearings 13 and '14:

forsupporting the shaft 15 that carries the j rotating field magnet 16and slip rings 17 within the machine frame stationary ar I Applicationfiled May 13,

by a nut31.

1918. Serial No. 234,131.

mature winding 18 is so mounted within the main part 10 of the frame asto surround the rotating field magnet.

One end 19 of the shaft v15 projects through the end bracket 12 andcarries the propeller blades 20,- by means of which the shaft and partsmounted thereon are driven. The blades 20 constitute the driving meansfor the alternator, sinceithe latter is designed foruse on an airplaneand to be wind-driven, but it will be clear that other drlvlng means maybe employed when the rmachlne isused on the ground. a The other end ofthe shaft 15 projects through the end i a bracket 11 and has a hub 21secured thereto torotate therewith. The hub 21 is preferably made ofbakelite or a similar non-conducting material and is: molded about theinner edge of a metal disk-electrode 22 which a is provided with aseries of peripheral teeth 23. A brush 24 is mountedon the outer side ofthe end bracket lland, is s ring-prcssed against the inner face of thedisk 22.

The rotatable electrode 22 is, designed to make and break an oscillationcircuit across the gap 25 between the end of an adjacent toothJ23 andthe stationary electrode 26 to produce a train of sparks acrosssuchgap,as the teeth are moved successively into 00- operative relationwithsuchstationary electrode. The number of sparks per second and the toneof the oscillation circuit are determined by the number of teeth on thedisk 22 and the speed of rotationof the latter; The electrode 26 isscrew-threaded and has a tungsten tip-27- at one end and a slot 28 atthe other end to receive the end of a screwdriver, whereby the saidelectrode may be radially adjusted in a threaded opening and may belocked in its adjusted position The plate or arm 30 that carries theelectrode 26 is provided with wings 32 wlnch, together with the plateintermediate them,

are curved circumferentially ofthe diskelectrode 22 to slidablyfit acurved surface 33 on the upper side of a block 34 made of bakelite orsimilar non-conducting material. The block 8411s secured to the outerface 36 the and bracket 11: countersunk capmeans combination 0 a. tensefo 'atah e screws 35 fitting in threaded sockets 37 and insertable-fromthe outer side of the block 34. A'part of the rear edge of the curvedelectrode-supporting plate 30 between the Wi s 3 is c way d tooth d, a tto provide a rack that meshes with a pinion 39 seated on the upper sideof the block and having a reduced stem 40 fitting into'a bushing 41 in arecess 42 in the upper side of the block 34. The pinion 39 is providedwith a slot 43 to receive a screw driver, whereby the plate 30 and theelectrode 26 thereon may be adjustedin either directioncircumferentially of the electrdde 22. The fronted es ofthe wings 32abut against vertical s oulders 341m the block 34 and the rearedge'sj'of the wings 32 abut against, and are by,a vertical shoulder 342'oxi'the block 34, and the pinion 391s confined betweenthe rack 38 andthe" shoulder, 342'.

Each of the wings 32 has a slot 44 therein to receive a screw45"whichfits'a threaded socketin the insulating block 34. The electrode26'may besecured in adjusted position by tightening the screws 4,"whichare locked i bla e r i 'g' e s 4 1. the normallystationarjelectrode is lockedin its'adjusted osition, whenit is desiredto change its ad ustment, it is" necestQ looseiitlie erews'tt beforethepinion 39 may be turned. hollow cover 48 of conical or stream1ine'iorm (only partly shown) secured to thedrame 10am! enclosesthe andbracket '11, thts rk-gap; .ap-

pal tu's and other apparatus associated seesa c ai a y nvent 1. sparkapapparatus 7 com rising the combinatidn oa rotatable toothe disc,electrade, a relatively stationaryelectrode, o for adjusting said statiary electrode with relation to the rotatable electrode, saidmeanscomprisin a plate slidalile' circiimfe rentially of said rotatableelectrode,

iiiid, insulating and supporting means" for said stationary electrodeandsaid adjusting'n eans said insulating and a asbem maufimd eta 'dis aqe mh h ea sief befret a e es 'trbde 1 2.- A sp a abp f usj b p n tQqmhina'tmn with a rotatable toothed disc" 1d. t jr'qde. of a re at velya i'r y l 1 r Histable radially" and circumferentially a fixedinsiil'atin'g block supporting aid sta iei r e ra e a m a fie a .an fr mt e axle war -ate cw I 1 1. ,IH e par ed apparatu c m rising the q-opeiama le r des, one

t thtfil fi i x dth he being relatiyey stationary" and disposed a iaentf h pp'ripheify' tr. the acetate eleptmde ndia s P a! a stationaryelect'rod ie gomp ii siii g' a fiied' inposed adjacent to the peripheryof said rotatable electrode, and supporting means for thestationaryelectrode comprising a fixed insulating block, a plate havin a faceslidably supported on said block an carrying the stationary electrode,and means for adjustin sai plate and electrode circumferential y of therotatable electrode.

A spark-gap apparatus comprising the combination of co-operatingelectrodes, one consisting of a rotatable toothed circular disk and theother electrode being normally statioiiary 'and'dis osed adjacent to theperipher of said dis and a supporting means for said electrode com'risinga fixed block of insulating material aving a curved surface, acurved rack carrying said stationary electrodeandslidabl e on the curvedsurface of said block, a pinion mounted in said block for adj'ustin saidrack and the electrode thereon in eit "erdirection circumferentially ofsaid electrode disk, and means for securing said rack in its adjustedposition.

6f A sparlrap apparatus comprising the combination o co-ope'ratingelectrodes, one being rotatable and comprising a toothed metallic discand a current-conducting member associatedtherewith, and the other beingrelatively stationary, and a supporting means for the stationaryelectrode mounted at a distance from the axis of said rota ableelectrode comprising a member adjus able circumferentially of therotatable member and havings'crew-threaded engagement with s'aidsta'tionary electrode, w ereby the stationary electrode is adjustablecircumr r aauy and radially: of 'said rotatable electrode.

'Z. The combination with a dvnammelectrio machine comprislng a me, and

brackets for the frame and a shaft mounted in said end brackets, of arotatable electrode carried by said shaft, a

latively stationaryelectrode disposed ad acent to the periphery of saidrotatable electrode and supporting means for said stationary la tm ccomprising an insulating block having a curved surface, means forsecuring said insulating block to the outer side of one of said eiidbrackets, a curved toothed plate slidable on said curved surfaceandprovided with threaded'aperture opposite the peri hery of saidrotatable electrode to receive the stationaryelectrode and adaptingthe'same to be adiusted radially of the rotatabl'e electrode, and a pinin mounted in saidblockand meshing wit said t thed plate, whereby thelatter and the e rode thereon are adjustable in either directioncircumferentially of the rotatable electrode.

8. In a spark-gap apparatus, the combination With a rotatable shaft, aninsulating member mounted' on said shaft, a toothed circular discelectrode mounted on said insulating member, and a current conductingmember associated With said electrode, of a stationary insulating blockmounted at a distance from the shaft, a supporting member mounted onsaid insulating member, an electrode mounted on said supporting member,means for adjusting said supporting member circumferentially of saidinsulating block, and means for securing said supporting member in itsadjusted osition.

In testimony whereof, I have ereunto subscribed my name this 30th day ofApril IJESLIE O. PARKER.

